Archive · 30 Nov 2025
Iran Boycotts 2026 World Cup Draw
Iran is not going to the big event where teams find out who they will play in the 2026 World Cup.
This is because the United States did not give visas to important people from Iran's football team.
Only a few team members got visas.
Iran says this is not fair, so they are skipping the event.
The World Cup itself will still have 48 teams, including Iran.
FIFA, the organization that runs football, says it will look into the problem.
The United States has strict rules about who can enter the country, which can make it hard for teams from certain countries to attend events.
Iran is boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, DC, due to visa denials for key delegation members.
Only four Iranian officials, including the head coach, received visas, while others, including the federation president, were denied.
The boycott is limited to the draw ceremony and does not affect Iran's participation in the tournament.
FIFA has stated it will seriously follow up on the issue, highlighting the challenge of balancing sporting fairness with political realities.
The US has visa restrictions for citizens of 12 countries, including Iran and Haiti, which has also qualified for the World Cup.
- Who
- Iranian football federation (FFIRI) and its delegation
- What
- Boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw
- When
- December 5, 2023
- Where
- Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Why
- Several members of the Iranian delegation were denied visas by the United States
- Event
- 2026 FIFA World Cup draw
- Location
- Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
- Date
- December 5
- Reason for Boycott
- Visa denials for Iranian delegation members
- FIFA's Response
- Will follow up on the issue seriously
- US Visa Restrictions
- Affects citizens from 12 countries, including Iran and Haiti
- World Cup Participants
- 48 teams, including Iran and Haiti
- Tournament Dates
- June 11 - July 19, 2026